Benjamin Russell (Alabama) tabs Kirk Johnson as next head football coach
![Catholic head coach Kirk Johnson talks with his team from the sideline at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School in Montgomery, Ala., on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. Montgomery Catholic defeated Vigor 21-7. Catholic head coach Kirk Johnson talks with his team from the sideline at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School in Montgomery, Ala., on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. Montgomery Catholic defeated Vigor 21-7.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2500,h_1406,x_0,y_255/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/high_school/01jjn67f2vsm6jjv5hwz.jpg)
Benjamin Russell (Alabama) made a blockbuster move when it pertains to the high school football world.
On Monday, the Wildcats made the move to hire Montgomery Catholic's Kirk Johnson as the program's next head football coach. Johnson was the lead man for the Knights for the last four seasons, going 55-2 with two consecutive state championships.
BREAKING: Benjamin Russell is hiring Montgomery Catholic’s Kirk Johnson as its head football coach. Johnson spent 12 years at Catholic, four as the head coach. He went 55-2 with the Knights with back-to-back state titles (4A, 5A) as the head coach. Johnson earned 5A coach of the… pic.twitter.com/Nc2oCytySN
— Rosie Langello (@RosieLangello) January 27, 2025
Last season, the Wildcats went 5-6 and exited the opening round of the AHSAA Class 6A playoffs in a 49-35 loss to Spanish Fort.
Now the team brings in one of the top names in Alabama to take the helm, after Johnson led Montgomery Catholic to the 2024 Class 5A state championship, defeating Moody 17-14. The victory capped a perfect season at 14-0 for the Knights.
The cupboard isn't bare over at Benjamin Russell, as the Wildcats bring back a slew of talent on both sides of the ball, including junior quarterback Alijah Johnson, who threw for 2,124 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2024.
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